I’m Not Asking You Out… But I’m Sort of Asking You Out

A few times a year, I’ll pick a day to reset and re-think a lot of my personal goals. My birthday (which rolled around this weekend) marks the end of the first quarter of the year, so today is a good day for me to do that. This is a little bit of a fluffy post, for sure, but I honestly couldn’t take one more day of that super heavy WV post sitting at the top of my homepage. First, it is imperative that you watch this bear video.

I spent the weekend at a conference in Orlando, where they actually let me speak to a group of people live (I KNOW!) and I was also able to attend some amazing sessions. One of my favorite parts of these conferences is learning how other people work. We have a lot to learn from each other – not just in a work setting, but in any setting – which is why I find relationships to be so valuable. When I was a new mom and I didn’t have a lot of new mom friends, internet mom forums were a lifesaver to me. Then an IRL group of moms were a lifesaver to me. And now while I wear a few different hats, I’m discovering that community and give-and-take is so important.

Nothing more to that, really, except a reminder to pass it on or that a candle doesn’t lose anything from lighting another candle or to drop to down low and bring it up slow. What? No, that’s not right.

I know a lot of you are bloggers or beginning freelancers or you just started a bigcartel shop or you’re kicking things off on your own in some sort of entrepreneurial-ish way. In the spirit of community and giving/taking, I’d love to sit down for a 30 minute Google Hangout one night this week (after 7p EST) and chat about your business-y related goals. I do this on a different/larger scale with brands, but I thought it’d be cool to do it with one of you guys sans fee. I do not claim to be an expert in blogging or etsy-ing or doing the merengue or whatever, but I’m happy to share what I know or toss around some ideas with you. We can chat about your blog or your freelancing or Jay-Z. If you’re interested, just comment with a little summary of what you’re doing (“I’m 100 sales in on my Etsy shop and my goal is to hit 1,000 by the end of the year” for example) and I’ll pick someone.

If not and you think I’m a moron, I totally agree; let’s watch the bear video again together.

63 Comments

Let’s see, what am I up to? I’ve got a nearly-1-year-old (who’s um, about to have major surgery, I will not freak, I will not freak, I will not…). I’m also preggo with kiddo #2, who will arrive in June. I have a small biz (which you’ve seen – monsters!) that we’re trying to expand, and I work part-time, mostly from home as the director of a monthly event here in town.

“Overwhelmed” doesn’t even begin.

What do I need? A housekeeper. Aside from that, I need help understanding what’s feasible and what’s not, and how to create an action plan for getting most of it done, because getting it *all* done is lolz.

Meghan, this is not related to Roo’s offer, but I couldn’t pass up your comment on your little one having surgery without a response. You’re right, don’t freak! Seriously. My younger son had heart surgery at 11 months and he healed so quickly it was amazing! He’s 22 now, has been a super athlete all his life and is doing great. So hang in there girl! Sending hugs & healing thoughts your way…

Meghan, I feel like the biggest moron. I totally missed the part about your baby having surgery! I’m so sorry. Sophie had a couple of major surgeries when she was around 6 months old.. it was amazing how quickly she recovered. She was in the hospital for a few days, but all smiles and back to her old self the day we came home from the hospital. Thinking of you guys! xoxo

MeghanApril 3, 2014 at 12:46 pm

Sorry for not replying sooner, Roo… This week has been NUTS. Thank you so much for keeping us in your thoughts. I am definitely looking forward to being post-op and being back on a usual schedule with him. :) Y’know, until Baby Girl shows up & turns everything else upside down. :)

Roo, no worries on my part… I kinda thought you must have missed that without realizing it. It happens. I just had to offer Meghan some support. You know how tough it is having a sick child, so I knew you’d understand.

I just launched an e-commerce venture, and definitely have goals around growing that. I have not at all thought about quantifying those goals–other than the fact that I definitely need to do that. I also work FT as a management consultant, but I hope to be not doing that for too much longer (and herein lies the need for finite goals).

On a TOTALLY different subject, I was thinking about writing you an email but since I’m commenting….. Have you seen this? I would love to see a post of yours with a rebuttal. This horrified me, but I immediately thought–“I wonder what Roo’s reaction to this would be?”

I don’t have a business. Really I spend all my time going to school…still…and it still sucks the life out of me. BUT we could have a hangout and eat fajitas and look at GIFs all night. Maybe watch that bear video a couple of times. Rock out to some solid music, too.

I don’t have a business, but I have a blog that is in need of a redesign. Coding scares me so if you want to discuss the ins and outs of HTML and maybe listen to me cry a little when my site crashes, that’d be fun… right? Right? RIGHT! Or we could just talk about writing in general and maybe start up a pen pal program for fellow bloggers that miss handwriting notes, for the nostalgia if nothing else.

Hi Roo! What an amazing and generous offer! I own a business as a Success Coach! I LOVE it! I’m proud that I honestly get to help people improve their lives! The business has grown (YAY), but it’s mostly been local and by word of mouth. I have no clue about marketing, etc. It’s crazy I have an MBA, but they don’t teach you the practical stuff in Business School!

So right now, I’m working on two programs (one retreat, and one online). The retreat is actually about doing the work you know you need to do or “Get Sh*t Done”. I’m really excited about that! The online program is a beast of another nature!
Do you have an assistant or delegate any work to others? Right now, it feels a bit overwhelming to do the work I love, and run the business part (invoices, emails, etc.)

My husband and I just moved from chilly Vermont to sunny Puerto Rico because of an awesome job opportunity – for him. I’m a graphic designer and quit my day job to freelance full time (from the beach! No, just kidding, because you know, sand + Macbook = bad. But I wish!).

So… I started a blog and need to redo my professional website but I would love to chat about the stuff that comes after that – attracting clients, finding my non-corporate yet still professional voice/style, the basic lets get started! stuff.

I am currently doing nothing with my life, and I think I have that down pretty well so I guess I don’t need the chat time. BUT I’m moving to Orlando this summer! So if you ever go there again let me know and I will talk your face off in person.

Okay. I am *finally* getting my act together, focusing on what I want to do (travel write/review), and things are finally starting to happen. And by “things” I mean “one thing” and I’m almost afraid to say anything because it’s not set in stone.

(That above paragraph? I was trying to see how many cliches I could it into two lines. I done good, I think.)

Since you’re a freelancer who’s actually making money doing what you do, I would relish the opportunity to get your pro advice on how I can parlay this in-the-works opportunity into some other opportunities and eventually, just maybe, start to earn a little money for what I do. If you don’t pick me, I’ll feel super rejected, but as a writer I’m totally used to it and will get over it within 24-48 hours and still manage to read your blog without crying.

First, that bear video has made today a thousand times better. Thank you for that.

I’ve been blogging for almost three years (!!!) and opened an Etsy shop in 2012. I am also mommy to three children under three (still not sure how that happened … okay, yeah I am … ).

I feel like I’m missing something with the blogging/promoting myself thing. I spend a lot of my time screaming YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG at the computer. Maybe it’s because I’m not a niche blogger? Maybe I don’t know how to work ze Twitter? Maybe I’m not motivated enough? I just can’t seem to get anything to GO.

Or maybe I’m just lame. Which I would TOTALLY be okay with if someone would just tell me. Then I can stop daydreaming about making money off these ventures and just do it because I love it. Which I do. Even if it’s lame.

Honestly I think this is a great idea. I know someone will find great value in this. I’m not in a place where my goal is readily attainable so I might not benefit as much as someone who (much like the example you’ve given) is on their way. If that makes sense. I have a goal to make enough soap (and perfect my recipes) and finish all the business-y junk (registered with state, bank account opened, etc) to be able to launch my soap business come fall. Anyway, that video is ridiculous. And hilarious. (and I used way too many parenthesis in this message) (but that’s how I roll) (so there)

Hi Roo!
I’m a work-from-home mama who runs a penguin making plush business since 2008. I’ve finally been able to get back in the groove of things since having my son attend preschool in the fall last year, which led to some amazing business opportunities, but I’d love to learn more about marketing, growing my business, and balancing work-life at home. :)
Thank you!
Akiyo

Oh my stars! Winning this would be the equivalent of winning the daily lottery for life to me! I cannot tell you how much it would mean to me!

I am a mom to three kids under four years old and work full time as a corporate drone with a soul-crushingly long commute that is tearing my family apart :(

I am planning on launching my blog by mid-2014 and I need an escape plan from my cubicle. My goal is to embark upon a WAHM lifestyle doing freelance work and blogging.

Specifically, I would love to chat with you about the first baby steps you took in finding your first clients and starting your career. I don’t know anyone who does this IRL and I don’t know where to start.

This is an amazing idea and is sure to be an amazing opportunity for whoever wins this! Props to you for offering something so awesome!

Roo- we must be on some similar brain waves or something, because I recently just told my husband I wished I could have an opportunity to ask you some questions about start-up and being successful… I don’t even know where to start! I’m currently trying to start up a freelancing career for PR/social media management/online interaction. I am teaching online marketing classes at a local college (which I love!) and I am working 3 other jobs to put myself through university (1.5 more years!). I have always dreamed of being my own boss and working for home- or wherever I happen to be :) I’m a doggie-mama and a wife, keeping busy, dreaming big and “wishing and hoping and praying that you will be mine!”… Ahmm… Sorry was that weird?

I would love to chat! I’ve been blogging for over three years, and while I have had a few posts that got quite a few hits I would really like to give blogging a go and try to make a little something off of it. I am a stay-at-home mom of three and love to write!

Hey girl hey! Um, nothing big going on over here, my goal is to survive the summer with a newborn and our 3 kids. So, yep. I totes like the idea of refreshing goals throughout the year, good to keep in mind if I decide to ever go big and open an etsy shop :)

Hola, Roo! I have an itty, bitty, baby blog that ebbs and flows in importance based on my current life state. I’m finishing up grad school this summer and working a full time job that involves travel (I’ll be in CT for a night soon!) and things just seem to get hectic so fast. I’m looking to make a big move this summer when grad school finishes and I’d love to get my blog up and running as a partial money-maker/important part of my day. Just building some kind of schedule/creating a more organized life would be great, too.

Oh, man…what I need probably isn’t possible. And I don’t even know if I could swing a hangout, as I have kid duty in the evenings. But why not?

I’m a full-time telecommuting/part-time freelancing editor with many other skills that are (mostly) rotting unused (writing, content organization and indexing, graphic design…I have worn a *lot* of hats in my day). I’m also the mommy of a toddler who’s looking to get pregnant again. And the breadwinner. I don’t get a lot of sleep.

While I love the WAHM life, I would really love to make enough freelancing so that I could ditch the FT gig (just the “chained to a desk” part — I heart my employer, and would be in job heaven if I didn’t have a 2-year-old) and scale back my hours — currently 60+ a week just to keep us afloat.

Oh, and I also suck at networking. And have zero time to market myself.

Ohhhhh my gosh I had to watch that video several times because I couldn’t believe it was just a “re-enactment” lolololol!! Can we watch the bear video together at our hang out? Will there be Cheetos? Will you wear the unicorn mask? Too many questions.

Really though – cool idea! Relationships are super important whether it’s personal or business. I’m a stay at home mom/work part time mom at my hubby’s business/also re-starting my photography business. I have a hard time really getting how to juggle all of that in only 24 hours.

It was great attending your presentation at Type A Bootcamp. It’s always fun to surround yourself with people who push you and to think outside the box. My push this year is to go from blogger to business owner and monetize our website. My goal is to start pitching to brands instead of waiting for them to approach me. Would love to connect with bigger brands and campaigns as well and need to figure out how to get that into a well presentable media kit and pitch. Hope we get to connect at a future conference soon.

Hey Roo! Love the idea! I’ve been designing websites for about 10 years but this is my first real attempt at a blog and would love to gain a daily reader group instead of ‘talking to no one’ haha. BTW-bear video- rocked my socks

*AHEM* so I have this little piece of the World Wide Web that my blog occupies. It’s nothing super special yet, but it is slowly getting a small following. Now *I* know that I’m the bees knees, but translating that into a website with a clear focus has been an issue for me. I also reeaaallllly struggle with opening up my writing to a more personal level and I feel like that self-censors my content. I don’t think at this time I’m looking to monetize, just doing it for the warm and fuzzies and to have a place to post cat videos. (j/K, I am a dog person)

Lastly, I’m pretty dope at the internet and would like to figure out how to improve my social media presence. Links on blog.

Will bake cookies and braid hair in exchange for your help. Please and thanks.

I am now officially convinced that things happen for a reason. I have been avidly and obsessively following your blog for a while now. In fact when I first discovered it, I spent hours looking for posts that I hadn’t read, and I may or may not have spent the better half of a Monday checking out TIHIF volumes one through infinity. Those are by far my favorite and now emoting via gif is exclusively how a coworker and I communicate. We are convinced that is why our network slows down during lunch hours.

Now I have two real reasons why I would love to sit down with you and chat. One, which is actually the lesser of the two reasons, is that I myself become a blogger just a few months ago (last November to be exact). My blog, OUT + OUTFIT, is a social and fashion blog focusing on the happenings around the Cincinnati area. I am working on getting my name out there and know that networking is one way to do it, but I would also love to hear from you in regards to just getting yourself off the ground, trying to establish a loyal following, all that jazz.

However the real reason I would like to talk to you is actually one that has to do with my day job, teaching. I am a high school English teacher and I am going to experiment with a creative writing unit with my two freshman classes. I mentioned to them that we will have some extra time at the end of the year and I was thinking about doing a creative writing unit and they went nuts. They have not stopped asking me about it since because they want to do it so bad. So clearly we will be doing some creative writing.

I have been building my unit with all sorts of writing that I hope to do: short short stories, poetry, love letters written to inanimate everyday yet forgotten items, etc. Now, like all good teachers, it’s smart to show good examples to the students so they have an idea of what to strive for. I saved a few posts from here to share with them (the emergency empanada is my favorite, to be specific) and I was already going to reach out to you about this, so if we did have an opportunity to talk, I would very much like to focus on your writer’s voice, style, technique, etc. I think that that kind of conversation would not only be beneficial to the unit I hope to teach, but also something that I can carry over to my personal blog. I talk a lot of about polka dot sweaters over there but I still want to make sure I am representing myself as an eloquent writer. Oh, and yeah, that’s right, it is also about the children; they too need to be taught that great voice.

So I hope that you take this into consideration. I can see that many other commenters have some great pleas, so I know there is stiff competition, but regardless I am glad I got this opportunity to reach out to you because you are easily one of the best!

Rooooooooo,
I write a blog about everything and nothing really but I like to call it a DIY and humor blog. It’s kind of whatever is on my mind, where I am traveling, or what DIY project I am working on. I would love to learn how to put a media kit together. This may actually entail narrowing in on what my “brand” is. But, I love how your blog touches on all sorts of stuff and I am hoping to make my blog successful as well without it having to be catered towards one thing. Ya feel me?

Hey Roo!
How YOU doin’? Love this! Great idea! I wouldn’t mind chatting with you about my new venture. I’m a SAHM of 4, I currently have a small blog, but have come to realize it’s not my dream. SO I plan to quit that soon to start an online magazine. I already have some things in the works for it, but would love to hear your thoughts as far as website direction, generating buzz, reaching people, and getting advertisers. LOVE you!! Sorry…was that too much??

I started a faith and fitness blog in January with high hopes. I’m a military wife by day and a South American missionary by night. (Was way inspired by Gina’s How We Do. She’s livin’ the dream).

I don’t want to be so stats or potential income motivated, as I enjoy writing and genuinely desire to encourage and grow others (I see it as a ministry)… but I cant help but get sad when I realize that I’m posting my heart out for five people. Are you feelin’ me?

I’m a working mum on maternity leave who has been made redundant.. Before I get back out into the job market and while I have the opportunity to be at home with my youngest (a yummy 9 mth old) of 4 munchkins who have the atopy triad conditions (kinda like the gang but mostly not) – I’m going full force on building a passive income stream.

I’ve just started writing articles for various sites ; am about to send my first iphone app off for development by someone who is either in brazil or israel ; am 2 months into my first blog ; am about to start mockups for a web app ; am researching the best way to develop some software ; have just ventured into SOCIAL MEDIA (gasp – it’s a whole new world) ; have bought a couple of other domains and am working out the best way to build and monetise the sites.

It’s a hot mess and there are NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY to try to get everything done.

I’d love to get a mastermind sesh about building a personal brand, growing a following / getting traffic, a critique of my blog and whether i’m on the right track for meeting the goals i have for it would be oh so fab!

Hi Roo,
This is a brilliant idea! I am currently working full time for a manufacturer in CT as their marketing department (yes the entire department). I’ve worked in marketing for over 10 years but recently picked up a couple of clients that I am working with on a consultant basis (at night, weekends, lunch breaks etc). I WANT CONSULTING TO BE MY JOB :) I want to get out of the corporate world and have the flexibility to spend more time with my son. Any advice on how to market my services to build clientele? Also would love insight on establishing rates, pitching and networking.

Hi! I work at a global orphan care non-profit (Back2Back.org), managing the website, blog, and copywriting for our print publications/collateral. I love sharing the stories of the kids that we serve – I’m a firm believer that everyone has a story worth telling. My husband is a student pastor who is passionate about encouraging students during those awkward middle school/high school years. We have two littles under three that fill our lives with joy and a bit of chaos too ;) I would love, love, love to chat with you about copywriting and our website.

I’m not sure if this “giveaway” (or as I like to call it: lifeline-for-those-of-us-needing-some-expertise/lovin’/guidance….too many dashes? Sorry!:)) is still going on but I was too chicken to comment before! My friend and I co-authored and published a short ebook (A Busy Mom’s Guide to a Green, Clean, and Balanced Life) as a resource and encouragement for women who want to live more intentional lives. We are ALL about community and we are not experts–simply women, mommas sharing what we’ve learned….where we’ve failed…and ideas of where we want to be. Our book is available on Amazon, we have a facebook page, and a few local presentations/workshops/community events lined up, but we are teachers by trade and are not so good (ok, terrible) at promoting. We would love to branch out and really take the idea of women-supporting-women live, build community through blogging, and let’s face it, the opportunity to chat with you would be too great!!!! We love your writing style, the community you foster here, and what you have to say….thank you for Neon Fresh! And for this awesome opportunity for someone here!!!! (Maybe us??:))

I just saw this and think it’s great! I am thick into big changes for my family. I have a degree in Public Health and worked for our city’s health dept. for 5 years, then spent the first 18 months of my daughter’s life seeking out a more flexible schedule. Lifelong learner that I am, I took a wellness coach course from Mayo Clinic, just completed my Postpartum Doula training last weekend, oh and switched to a part-time work from home wellness coaching gig a few months ago as I try to grow a little business. My goal is to return to what I love: directly helping people in my community–in particular women–get healthy. I want to specialize in preemie families and ones with mamas going back to work.
I have a logo someone designed for me but I’m not sure about it. And I really struggle with charging people. I’m a non-profit girl at heart! I’d really like the opportunity to chat with you. You’re awesome! (Apologies for the novel.)

I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else experiencing problems with your blog.
It seems like some of the text on your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
This may be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Cheers